Fraudulent horse sale sends Shreveport man to prison

The Coggins Test and other veterinary back up is the best way for anyone buying a horse to be assured they getting the correct horse. There have always been shady horse dealers. As the saying goes “Caveat Emptor!” (or Buyer Beware for those not versed in Latin). If you are victim of a fraud, go to the legal authorities. Getting frauds convicted of their crimes is the only way to stop them. ~ HfH

A Shreveport man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Upshur County, Texas, and was sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Department of Corrections for tampering with documents related to a horse sale.

The conviction stems from the arrest of Edwin A. Williams, 55, in November for selling a horse with a fraudulent Coggins test to a rancher in Upshur County, according to a news release from Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. TSCRA Special Ranger Larry Hand investigated the case.

The victim told authorities at the time he purchased the horse Williams claimed he grabbed the wrong copy of the horse’s Coggins test but would mail the original. Within three days, the victim became dissatisfied with the horse’s disposition and attempted to contact Williams.

Williams did not reply so the victim obtained the original Coggins test from a Louisiana animal hospital. The copy the victim was given did not match the original in 15 different descriptors, including gender and original owner, the news release states.

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